Lakers’ Kobe Bryant says he will return to court on Sunday

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant sits on the bench in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, in Ontario, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

SACRAMENTO — For a town that thrives on the dramatic, Kobe Bryant delivered.

He didn’t just announce on his Facebook account Friday that he’d play when the Lakers host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at Staples Center, officially ending an eight-month rehab of his torn left Achilles tendon. Bryant did so on a two-minute, eight-second video that captured all the excitement surrounding his return.

The video starts with the title, “Seasons of Legend.” It ends with Brynt’s return date on Dec. 8, 2013. In between, the video shows wind, rain and snow battering Bryant’s No. 24 jersey. His uniform eventually rips in half. Sunlight then appears.

All the imagery captures the challenges Bryant encountered with the injury and his determination to overcome it.

Guard Nick Young and forward Jordan Hill laughed as they watched the video in the locker room before the Lakers played Friday against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. But their cheery moods went beyond chuckling over the video’s theatrics.

“I would probably to say to him, ‘What took you so long?’ ” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni joked. “We’ll see how it is going forward. But this is good news.”

Bryant’s return Sunday will mark 240 days since he injured his Achilles tendon on April 12 against the Golden State Warriors, an injury that contributed to the Lakers’ first-round playoff exit to the San Antonio Spurs.

“It was a tough thing to take,” D’Antoni said. “But with modern medicine and the way things are, I thought he’d be able to come back. “

Former Atlanta Hawks forward Dominique Wilkins needed 283 days before returning in 1992 from a ruptured right Achilles late in his career. Former Clippers guard Chauncey Billups tore his left Achilles last February, an injury that sidelined him for 46 games. Former Galaxy star David Beckham at age 34 tore his Achilles in a soccer game March 14, 2012, and returned six months later, a month ahead of schedule. The 35-year-old Bryant will try to prove he can play at an elite level that already has included five NBA championships and a fourth-place standing on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

The Lakers showed faith in Bryant’s recovery and appreciation for how he built the team’s brand through 17 years by signing him last week to a two-year, $48.5 million extension that ensures he’ll play through at least the 2015-16 season in what would mark a 20-year NBA career.

“He’ll be a dominant player,” D’Antoni said. “We won’t know until we see him. But he can play anywhere. Above the rim, below the rim, besides the rim. The guy can play any way.

“He’ll figure out how to be effective and then he’ll come at you with everything he’s got.”

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Bryant stayed in Los Angeles on Friday and worked out at the Lakers’spractice facility in El Segundo and near his Newport Beach residence. After participating in three consecutive practices this week, Bryant reported improvement in his range of motion, how his ankle feels the following morning, his conditioning and his driving. But Bryant still sees weaknesses in his cutting and jumping. He also noted scar tissue remains in his left ankle joint, which limits his mobility.

Other adjustments will come, including whether he will start at shooting guard over Jodie Meeks or at small forward over Wesley Johnson. With absences of Steve Nash (back) and Jordan Farmar (strained left hamstring), Bryant also will play at point guard. D’Antoni and Bryant expect he will play fewer than the 38.5 minutes he averaged the past two seasons.

The Lakers obviously prefer those uncertainties than Bryant’s absence,

“We spent the whole season preparing and playing games not knowing when he’s coming back,” Meeks said. “So to hear he’s coming back, he’s going to be a positive influence for everybody. To have him come back brings us a lot of confidence.”